Happy Spring!

Yes, Spring is really here and the allergies are flying!

Speaking of that, the Sandhill Crane migration is finally slowing down. I saw some flights just a few days ago. I thought they had all gone by now.

About a month ago our male Red-winged Blackbirds returned. Last year it started with 6 or 8 males. This year we got 10-12! They are all over our yard and the one across the street. They are real seed hogs, too! I have to fill even the big feeders every day instead of every 2-3 days. They are pretty to watch and fun to listen to but they can be a bit annoying.

We also had some late season Mountain Chickadees show up and they just recently moved onward. We have been on the lookout for our favorite Goldfinches. They usually hang around all winter but not this year. I finally saw one male Lesser Goldfinch on the thistle feeder last Thursday. I hope he's here to stay and brings his family too.

Of course, as of April 1st we are keeping a keen ear and eye out for our namesake Hummingbirds! The first two feeders went up Saturday (4/3). They are the glass egg-shaped ones (made by GardenJewels, bought at Wild Birds Unlimited) that just fit in-between the iron bars on our windows. We put one on the kitchen window (south) and one on the window of our laundry room (east). Both can be seen from the kitchen. Usually, the first male will show up around sunset on a day that is very windy, after a storm. I'm watching!

The temps have finally reached the 60s this past week. I hope it stays. We've had enough cold this year. There have been flowering trees and bushes all over town since late February. Everyone has been worried that they might freeze but so far so good. Our usual last freeze date is April 15th.

Stay tuned . . .